For which substances do the RoHS restrictions apply?

To protect human health and the environment, the EU RoHS and China RoHS directives demand the avoidance of six substances – heavy metals as well as brominated fire retardants and plasticisers.

The restrictions, or permissible highest concentrations in homogeneous materials, apply to the following substances:

Lead

0,1 %

Mercury

0,1 %

Cadmium

0,01 %

Hexavalent chromium

0,1 %

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)

0,1 %

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

0,1 %

Where highest concentrations are exceeded due to technical requirements, these exceptions are defined in appendix III of the 2011/65/EU DIRECTIVE, such as, for example, copper alloys with a percentage by weight of up to 4 % lead (exception 6c).

These exceptions are not valid for the China RoHS. Exceeding the highest concentrations must be shown through the display of an orange-coloured marking and also a manufacturer’s declaration “Declaration of manufacturer according to China RoHS”.

The European Commission already has a continuation in the DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/863 of 31 March 2015, which from 22 July 2021 restricts further substances (plasticisers) in their application.

For more than 20 years I have been working in the product management and business development in different divisions of the WIKA Group. Currently I am responsible for trends, new measurands and other general topics in the strategic portfolio management department of the industrial instrumentation division. In this blog, I would like to share my experience with you and provide an opportunity for further discussion.